Spiral drive



Filed July 29, 1947 w. B. AsHwoRTH 2,637,366

SPIRAL DRIVE 5 Sheets-Shaml l Wolder B. Ashworrh, INVENTOR.

May 5, 1953 w. B. AsHwoRTH 2,637,363

SPIRAL DRIVE Filed July 29, 1947 5 sheets-sheet 2 Pofh of cronk shofi on roioh'on of exerncll shofi Outward Spiral l l al Fig. 6

Pitch Circle of Gear 55' Pitch Circle of Gear 6 Pitch Circle of Geer 57' Center of/Geor 55' Center ot' Gear 63' Center of Geor 57 Center of Geor 69' Center of Gear 79' \Center of Geor 7l' Pitch Circle of Gear 69' Pitch Circle of Geor 79' Pitch Circle of Gear 7l' Center of 635155' Center ot' Gero r 7`9' Center of Gear 57' lg u A- Wolder B. Ashworth. l INVENToR.

'f BY l/ Center of Gear 69' Center of Geor 63' Center of Gear 7l' Pitch Circle of Gear 69' Pitch Circle of Gear 79' Pitch Circle of Gear 7lI ay 5, 1953 w. B. AsHwoRTH 2,637,366

SPIRAL DRIVE Filed July 29. 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 9

F'ig. 7

lOl

IOS

INVEN TOR.

May 5, 1953 w. B. ASHWORTH 2,637,366

SPIRAL DRIVE Filed July 29, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Welder B. Ashworfh, INVENTOR.

Patented May 5, 1953 SPIRAL BREVE Walden B. Ashworth, West Chester, Pa., assigner to Atlas Powder Company, Wilmington, Del., a

corporation of Delaware 15 Claims.

The `present inventioizi relates to mechanical movements, particularly as applied to crimpers.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved apparatus for crimping.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved apparatus ior translating a 'body in spiral rotary motion.

A 'further object of the invention is the pro-- vision of an improved method for translating a body in spiral rotary motion.

A still further object of the invention is a provision of an improved drive for the type crimper in which the crimp-ing edge is translated in rotary motion against an object to be crimped.

'objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawmg.

in patent application. Serial No. 697,142, filed September 1li, 1946, by Daniel D. Huyett for "Crimping Apparatus, now Patent No. 2,541,361 of February 13, 1951, an apparatus is shown by means of which cylindrical shells, such as blasting caps, may be crimped by means of a circular crimping edge which is translated through a spiral or through a succession of circles progressively increasing in radius. By means o the present invention an apparatus and method is provided for driving a crimper of this type so that the crimping edge is translated through a spiral of more than one complete revolution and the apparatus is returned to a non-crimping position with a uni-directional motion of its drive.

According to the present invention a body is translated in a resultant continuous spiral rnotion by simultaneously translating it at dierent angular speeds through two circular paths1 each of which paths passes through the center of revolution of the other.

The invention also comprises apparatus for performing this method comprising a first means for translating said. body in a rst circular path; a second means for translating said body in a second circular path, each said circular path passing through the center of revolution of the other, and means operatively connecting said rst and second means for operating said first and second means simultaneously so that the angular speeds of translation through said first and second paths differ, thereby causing said body to partake of continuous spiral rotary motion.

The invention will be further described in connection with the drawings which illustrate apparatus for crimping the shells of blasting caps, and in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of 'a specific embodiment of an Yapparatus for performing the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the apparatus shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of a part of the apparatus of Fig. l shown in a. different portion of its cycle of operation;

Fig. e is a top plan view of the portion of apparatus shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the shape of the path of movement obtained by the apparatus shown in the preceding figures;

Fig. 6 is a, top plan View of a modified crimping apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a fron-t sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6 taken along line 'i+1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side sectional View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6 taken along line --B of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged View of the apparatus of Fig. 7 shown at a diierent point in its cycle of operation;

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the position oi' parts of the apparatus of Fig. 6 at one point of its cycle of operation, and

Fig. 11 is a diagram similar to Fig. 10 but showing the position of parts at another point of the cycle of operation.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, 2l represents a standard in which are bored ho1es23 and ,2 5 for the reception of blasting caps 21 and 2S, Through standard 2| are jo-urnaled external shafts 3| and 33 which are respectively held in standard 2l by means of thrust rings 35 and 8l affixed to them.

In external shaft 3i is iournaled crank shaft 39 oiiset from the center of external shaft 3l, and in external shaft 33 is journaled crank shaft li! odset from the center of external shaft 33 a distance equal to the distance crank shaft ,33 is offset from the center of external shaft 3|. Crank shafts 33 and lil are of the same angular disposition relative to the centers of external shafts 3! and 33 respectively. Crank shafts 39 and il are respectively provided with crank arms i3 and i5 of equal length, and attached to crank arms @i3 and d5 respectively are crank pins 4l and lig, the centers of which are spaced from the centers of crank shafts 39 and il respectively a distance equal to the offset of the centers of crank shafts 33 and from the centers of external shafts 3l and 33. Crank pins lll and are also of the same angular disposition relative to their respective shafts. In Figs. 1 and crank shafts 39 and il are shown positioned at their farthest points of travel to the left permitted by l crank arm 43.

the turning of external shafts 3| and 33, and crank pins 41 and 49 are shown at their farthest points of travel to the right permitted by the rotation of shafts 39 and 4| when shafts 3| and 33 are in the position shown. This places crank pins 41 and 49 directly over the centers of shafts 3| and 33 respectively.

In Figs. 3 and 4, external shaft 3| is shown in a similar position to that in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but crank shaft 39 is shown turned so that crank pin 41 is at its farthest permitted travel to the left. Crank pin 41 is then removed from the center line of external shaft 3| a distance equal to twice the crank length.

Crank pins 41 and 49 are rotatably mounted in plate 59. Plate 59 contains circular crimping edges 5| and 53 encircling blasting caps 21 and 29 respectively. To external shafts 3| and 33 are respectively keyed similar gears 55 and 51. Through standard 2| is journaled drive shaft 59 actuated by crank 3|. Shaft 59 drives gear 63 which is similar to and drives gears 55 and 51. Crank shafts 39 and 4| extend beyond external shafts 3| and 33 respectively, and through bearings 65 and 61 respectively, which bearings are rigidly fixed together by web 53. Crank shafts 39 and 4| below bearings 35 and 61 are respectively keyed to similar gears 39 vand 1|, each of which is provided with thirtytwol teeth. Shaft 59 is drivingly connected to a universal joint, represented generally as 13, and universal joint 13 is drivingly connected to shaft 15 which is journaled in bearing 11 through web 63. Shaft 15 is keyed to gear 19 which is provided with twenty-eight teeth, and which drives gears 99 and 1|.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

As crank 6| is turned, shaft 59 drives gear 93 which drives gears 55 and 51, which in turn drive external shafts 3| and 33. External shafts 3| and 33 carry crank shafts 39 and 4| respectively through circles having radii equal to the distance that crank shaft 39 is oset from the center of external shaft 3|. Shaft 59, in addition to driving gear |53, through universal joint 13 and shaft 15, drives gear 19 which in turn drives gears 69 and 1 which further respectively drive crank shafts 39 and 4|. Thus, plate 59 is subjected to the circular translation provided by the rotation of crank shafts 39 and 4| in addition to the circular translation provided by the rotation of external shafts 3| and 33, each circular rotation being of equal radius.

With the relation of parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2, if crank shafts 3| and 39 and their correlative shafts 33 and 4| turned at the same speed in the same direction, the resultant effect on plate 50 would be to hold it stationary because crank pins 41 and 49 would remain directly over the centers of external shafts 3| and 33 respectively. However, if the apparatus were in the relation shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and external shaft 3| and crank shaft 39 turned at the same speed in the same direction, plate 59 would be translated in a resultant circular motion, the radius of which would equal twice the length of Or to put it another way and regarding the movement only of external shaft 3|, crank shaft 39 and the parts immediately connected therewith (external shaft 33, crank shaft 4| and connected parts always being in the same relative positions as are external shaft 3|, crank shaft 39 and connected parts), if shaft 3| and crank shaft 39 moved at the same speed, plate 59 would be translated` in circular mee tion, the radius of which would depend upon, and in any particular case be equal to, the distance the center of crank pin 41 was spaced from the center of external shaft 3|.

Thus, if crank pin 41 is made to move gradually away from the center line of external shaft 3|, as external shaft 3| turns, plate 5|] is translated in a resultant continuous spiral motion of increasing radius. Since gear 55 has less teeth than does gear 69, crank shaft 39 moves at less angular speed than does external shaft 3|. This lag of crank shaft 39 means that for one revolution of external shaft 3|, crank shaft 39 completes less than a revolution. Consequently, as the apparatus is driven, crank pin 41 gradually and continuously moves'out from the center of external shaft 3| until it reaches twice the crank length (as shown in Figs. 3 and 4), and then gradually and continuously moves back to coincide with center line of external shaft 3| when it has resumed its original position. The resultant motion of crank pin 41 is a spiral proceeding outward from its center for more than one complete revolution and returning inwardly to its original position.

Crank pin 49 takes an exactly similar motion to that of crank pin 41 and, consequently, plate 50 is translated so that it moves in this same motion. As plate 50 is translated, every point in plate 50 is similarly translated and so are crimping circles 5| and 53. Thus from the position shown in Fig. 1, crimping circles 5| and 53 respectively gradually and continuously spiral toward and into caps 21 and 29 producing the desired crimps, and then crimping circles 5| and 53 gradually and continuously spiral away from caps 21 and 29 to starting position, when crimped caps 21 and 29 may be withdrawn and further caps may be inserted and similarly crimped.

In Fig. 5A is shown a much enlarged diagram of the path taken by crank pin 41 (also taken by crank pin 49, and every point in plate 59). At the start, crank pin 41 and crank arm 43 are at the position shown by full lines and labeled 0. Since gear 19 which has twenty-eight teeth, is driven at the same speed as gear 63 (and hence at the same speed as gear 55 driving external Shaft 3|), and drives gear 69 having thirty-two teeth, crank shaft 39 rotates twenty-eight times for each thirty-two turns of external shaft 3|, or crank shaft 39 rotates at 'M5 the speed of external shaft 3|. Referring again to Fig. 5, the position of the crank pin at position 0 is that shown in Fig. 1. As external shaft 3| and crank shaft 39 turn, crank pin 41 follows the heavy outward, continuous spiral line shown until, after the external shaft has made one complete revolution, the crank arm and crank pin are at the position shown in dotted lines and labeled position l, that is, 1/8 less than a complete turn around their crank shaft. After two complete turns of external shaft 3|, crank pin 41 has followed the outward spiral further to reach posi-y tion 2, a further of a revolution around itsv crank shaft. Similarly, after three revolutions of external shaft 3|, crank pin 41 has followed the spiral further to position 3, and after four revolutions of external shaft 3|, crank pin 41 has reached at position 4 its full range from position 0. It then starts to spiral inwardly back, and on continued operation of the apparatus crank pin 41 follows the inward, continuous spiral shown by dotted lines, reaching, after five, six, and seven revolutions of external shaft 3| positions:

5, 6, and 7 respectively on the diagram. Finally after external shaft'ti has completed eight revolutions, crank pin e7, 'having completed seven revolutions, is again at position, and the cycle has been completed. A spiral taking eight turns to go in and out is similarly obtained if the crank shaft leads rather than lags the external shaft, so that the ratio of the number of teeth (and hence angular speed) on gears .l' and f5.9 is 9 to 8 rather than 7 to 8.

Depending upon `the ratio of the angular speeds of the crank shafts and the external shafts carrying them, different path configurations are taken by the crank pins and hence by the crimper plate. For example, if the crank shafts take one turn for every two turns of the external shafts, the cycle is completed in two turns of the external shafts. If the ratio of the rate of angular speeds of the crank shafts to the external shafts is to 0, the cycle is completed in Where R is the ratio of the speed of the crank shafts to the speed of the external shafts. Thus, when the crank shafts turn seven times for every eight turns for the external shafts, the ratio, R. is 'V8 and the value of l R-l is minus S. (The sign of the result is immaterial to the determination of the number of turns.) Inspection of Fig. 5 also shows that in eight turns of the external shaft the in-and-cut cycle has been completed.

If the crank shafts and external shafts are rotated at different speeds and in different directions, the spirals obtained are very steep and the in-and-out cycle is always completed in less than one revolution of the external shaft. Thus, if the crank shafts rotate once clockwise for each two rotations counterclockwise of the external shafts, one cycle is completed in 2/3 of a revoluand if three cycles are carried through, a symmetrical trefoil path is followed.

While the mechanical movement effected by the present invention is useful for translating bodies in different paths depending upon the ratio and direction of the movements of the crank shafts and the external shafts, to obtain desirable crimping action on objects of circular cross section it is desirable that the movement obtained be a continuous spiral which takes several complete turns before reaching its fullest diameter. Thus, for a crimping operation it Would seldom be desirable to'employ a continu- 6 ous spiral motion which is completed in less than eight turns of the external shafts, and usually it will be preferred to employ continuous spirals which are completed in from about 14 to about 25 turns when, for example, ordinary blasting caps are to be crimped.

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 of the drawings, ,while not exactly to scale, are approximately full-size views of a blasting cap crimper made in accordance with the present invention. Parts in this crimper which are directly analogous to parts of the crimper shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are designated by primed numbers corresponding to those used there previously. Thus, the `crimper contains a standard 2| through which are journaled external shafts 3|' and 33'. Through external shafts 3|"and 33 are journaled crank shafts 39' and 4|. The centers of crank shafts 39' and 4| are respectively offset 0.030 inch from the centers of external shafts 3 I and 33'. Machined as a part of external lshaft 3| is crank pin t1' the center of which is offset 0.030 inch from the center of crank shaft 39'. Since the crank length here involved is so short, it is unnecessary to provide a specific crank arm, the offsetting of the crank pin di on crank shaft 39' being sufficient to provide the desired crank length. Crank pin 49 is aflixed to crank shaft il in the same way that crank pin fil is afnxed to crank shaft 30 and is offset the same distance. External shafts 3i and 33 carry crank shafts 39 and 4| at the same angular disposition, and crank pins lll and 'i9' are carried by crank shafts 39' and ci at the same angular disposition. Thus, as is shown in Fig. 7, crank shafts 39 and 4| are at their farthest leftward movement and crank pins d1' and te' are disposed so that their center lines coincide with the center lines of shafts 3l and 33 respectively. Crank pins 4l' and 49 are rotatably mounted in plate 50. Plate 50 is separated from standard 2| and shafts 3|' and 33 by means of washers |0|, |03 and E05.

Through the center of standard 2|' and through hole lil in plate 50' passes tubular element lill which is rigidly fastened in standard 2| by set screw |05?. Hole ll! is large enough to permit plate 50 its full movement without its impinging on tubular element |237. The top portion of tubular element |'l has an internal diameter sufficient to hold electric blasting cap 2l 0.277 inch in diameter, into which plug H3 containing leg wires H5 and ||7 is to be crimped. Blasting cap 2l is supported at its base by means of rod i I9 ext-ending up inside of tubular element itil. Rod Il@ is supported in bracket |2| by set screw |23. Bracket |2| is secured to another bracket |213 by means of screws |22. Bracket |24 is secured to standard 2| by screws |25. Gears 55 and el having thirty teeth each are keyed to external shafts 3| and 33 respectively and separated from standard 2| by Washers |31 and |33 respectively. Gears 6e and 'll' each having thirty-one teeth are respectively keyed to crank shafts 39 and di' respectively, and are separated from gears 55 and 5l" by Washers |35 and |31 respectively, which washers |35 and I3? also support external shafts 3i and 33' respectively. Washer iti, gear 55', washer |35, and gear 69' are supported by washer |39 which in turn is supported by pin It! passing through crank shaft 3e. Washer |33, gear 57', washer |31, and gear 7| are supported by washer |43, which in turn is supported by pin |615 passing throushcrank shaft 4|. Gears 55' and '57" are driven by gear 63' also having'thirty teeth, which'idles on tu-` bular'element YI 01` and is separated from standard 2|' by means of washer |5|. Gears 69' and 1|' are driven by gear 19' having twenty-nine teeth, which also idles on tubular element |01, and is separated from gear 63 by washer |53. Below gear 19' lies bevel gear |55, which also idles on tubular element |01 and which is fastened to gears 63' and 19' by means of pins |51 and |58. Thus, bevel gear |55 drives both gears 63' and 19'. It is to be noted that gear 19' rotates eccentrically around tubular element |01. Bevel gear |55 is driven by bevel gear |59 which is keyed to'shaft |6| by means of pin |93. Shaft |6| is journaled in bracket |24. Shaft IEE is the driving shaft for the apparatus.

Crank pin 41 and the parts connecting it are prevented from downward movement by washer 1| and bolt |13, and similarly crank pin 49' and the parts connected to it are prevented from downward movement by washer and bolt |11.

The device shown in Figs. 6 through 9 is equipped to provide two crimps in the body of cap 21', and in addition one crimp to turn over the top of the shell. Ring |19, which is externally rectangular, is placed on top of plate 50', and in the center of ring |19 are placed circular crimping plates IBI and |83, each 0.312 inch in inside diameter, which are spaced apart by means of ring spacer |85, the combined thickness of which members is equal to the thickness of ring |19. Above ring |19 is located support plate |81 encircling and supporting cap 21' and rigidly xed to bracket |89 by bolts |90. Bracket |89 is bolted to standard 2|' by means of bolt |9|. Bracket |89 may be affixed to a table (not shown) to support the entire apparatus. Above ring |19 are placed strips |93 and |94, and over them is placed top crimping plate |91, 0.295 inch in inside diameter. Ring |19, strip |93, and plate |91 are all bolted to plate 50' by means of bolt |99, and ring |19. Strip |94 and plate |91 are bolted to plate 50' by means of bolt 20|. Sufcient clearance is provided between strips |93 and |94, and xed support plate |91 to permit strips |93 and l 954 to move with plate 50'. Plate |91, the crimping plates |8| and |83, and spacer ring |85 are all readily removed for replacement, and to permit their easy assembly dowel pins 203 and 205 are embedded in plate 50'. Similarly dowel pins 209 and 2 I (Fig. 6) are provided for the positioning of holder plate |81.

In the operation of the apparatus, drive shaft |6| is turned by a source of power (not shown). Drive shaft IGI carries bevel Agear |59 which drives bevel gear |55 rigidly connected to gears 63' and 19'.

Gear 63' drives gears 55' and 51' which in turn respectively drive external shafts 3|' and 33'. In turning, external shafts 3|' and 33 translate crank shafts 39' and 4|' respectively. Gear 19 drives gears 69' and 1|' which respectively turn crank shafts 39' and 4|'. The superimposed rotations of crank shafts 39 and 4| and external shafts 3|' and 33' acting through crank pins 01 and 49', translate plate 50' in outward, continuous spiral motion. Crimping plates |8I, |83, and |91 are carried by plate 50', which spirals into cap shell 21" producing the desired crimps. Plate |81 remains stationary to provide support for the top of cap shell 21' during the crimping operation. As the operation of the apparatus is continued, plate 50 `and the crimping plates spiralinwardly and away from cap shell21' until S. they again reach the position shown in Figs. 6, 7, :and 8, and the crimped cap is Withdrawn.

Since gears 55', 51', and 63' have the same .number of teeth; since gear 19' has twenty-nine teeth; and since gears 69 and 1|' each have thirty-one teeth, the ratio of the speeds of rotation of crank shafts 41' and 49' to external shafts 3| and 4| is 29 to 31 and a complete inward and -outward spiral takes yor 151/2 revolutions of the external shafts 3| and S33', and when the device has made one inward :and outward spiral, the parts are in a position which would appear as a mirror image of Fig. 7. However, after two cycles, or two complete crimp- .ing operations, the parts are again in position as .shown in Fig. '7. Fig. 9 shows an arrangement of the parts while the crimping edges are being pressed into the cap shell.

t is to be noted that in the device shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, gears 63' and 19' are rigidly -connected together, while in the device shown in Figs. l and 2, analogous gears 63 and 19 are connected by a universal joint. The universal joint is employed to insure that gear 19 is always in mesh with gears 69 and 1|. In the device shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, gear 19' tends to move in a direction which would take it out of mesh with gears 69' and 1|. This action is illustrated by Figs. 10 and 11 which show the pitch circles and centers of these gears. With the apparatus, in the position shown in Fig. 7, the centers of all gears are in line as appears in Fig. 10. After 1A revolution of gear 63' (and gear 19'), as is shown in Fig. 11, the center of gear 19' has moved up, whereas the centers of gears 69' and 1|' have moved down. In the positions shown in Fig. l1, the distance between centers of gears 69' and 19' (and between the centers of gears 19' and 1|') is greater than it is in the positions shown in Fig. 10. However, in the device shown in Fig. '7, the amount of eccentricity is so small that the gears never actually come out of mesh and their tendency in that direction is of no practical importance. In a devicein which larger eccentricities are involved, means for keeping the gears in mesh should be provided, as, for example, the universal joint taught in Fig. 1. This effect could also be accomplished by placing idler gears between gears 55' and 63', between gears 63 and 51', between gears 69' and 19', and between gears 19 and 1|". The idlers, by making driving and driven gears rotate in the same direction, would prevent their separation.

In the device shown in Figures 6 through 9, there is some lost motion between the start of the crimping cycle and the point of contact of the crimping edges with the cap shell. If a deeper crimp is desired, the crimping edges may be made smaller, in which case there will be less lost motion. Or if it is desired to utilize more of the cycle of operation in actual crimping without making a deeper crimp, this may be accomplished by building the device with smaller crimping edges, with less offset between the external and internal shafts, and with less crank length.

It may be seen that by means of the present invention a method is provided for translating a body, and particularly a body containing crimpmg edges, in reversing spiral motion with avunidirectional drive, and that the objects of the invention have been achieved. Other modifications in the art.

What is claimed is:

l. AnA apparatus for translating. a body in continuous spiral rotary motion comprising a nrst means for translating said. body in a rst circular path; a second means for translating said body in a second. circular path,- each said circular path passing through the center of revolutionl of the other; means operatively connecting said first and second means and operative to effect continuous andl simultaneous operation of said first and second` means at different angular speeds of translation through said first and secondpaths to cause said body to partake of continuous spiral rotary motion; and means for preventing axial rotation of saidL body.

A2. An apparatus according Ato claim l in which said second means is for translating said body in the same angular direction as said first means.

3. Ari apparatusI for translating` a. body in spiral rotary motion comprising two spaced cranks of equal crank length and of similar angular disposition rotatably mounted in said body,

means for synchronously turning said cranks in the same direction, means for synchronously translating each of said cranks in the same direction and at a similar angular disposition through a separate circular path having a radius equal to the crank length, said last mentioned means being constructed and adapted to translate said cranks at an angular speed different from that at which said cranks turn.l

4. An apparatus according to claim 3` inwhich said cranks are translated in the same angular direction as that in Whichsaidicranks turn.

5i An apparatus according to'clairn i in which the ratio, R, of the speed of rotation of said cranks and the speed of translation oi said cranks is such that the quantity is numerically at least about eight. t

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 in which the quantity is numerically `at least about 14 and not more than about 25. f

7. An apparatus for translating a body in spiral rotary motion comprising a body, a first pin rotatably mounted in said body, a first shaft affixed to said first pin with its center line offset from the center line of said first. pin, a second pin rotatably mounted in said body at a point spaced from said rst pin, a second shaft affixed to said second pin with its center line offset from the center line of said second pin a distance equal to and of similar angular disposition to the offset of the center line of said rst shaft from the center line of said first pin, means for rotating said first shaft and means for rotating said second shaft at the same angular velocity; a third shaft, said first shaft journaled longitudinally through said third shaft, the center line of Said first shaft being offset from the center line of said third shaft a distance equal to the offset of the center line of said first shaft from the center line of said first pin; a fourth shaft, said second shaft journaled longitudinally through said fourth shaft, the center line of said second shaft being oifset from the center line of said fourth shaft a distance equal to and of similar angular disposition to the offset of the center line of said rst shaft from the center line of said ,third shaft; means rotatably mounting said third and fourth shafts in fixed relationship and means for turning said third and fourth shafts at the same angular speed but at a different angular Speed than that at which the first and second shafts turn.

8. An apparatus for translating a body in spiral rotary motion comprising a body, a first pin rotatably mounted in said body, a rst shaft affixed to said f rst pin With its center line offset from the center line of said first pin, a second pin rotatably mounted in said body at a point spaced from first pin, a second shaft aiiixed to said second with center line-offset from the center line of said second pin a distance equal to and of similar angular disposition to the offset of the center line of said first shaft from the center line of said first pin, means for rotating said first shaft and means for rntating said second-shaft at the saine angular velocity; a third shaft, said rst shaft journaled longitudinally through said third shaft, the center line of said first shaft being odset from the center line of said third shaft a distance equal to the offset of the center line of said first shaft from the center line of said rst pin; a fourth shaft, said second shaft journaled longitudinally through said fourth shaft,A the center line of said second shaft being offset from the center line of said fourth shaft a distanceequal to and of similar angular disposition to the offset of the center line of said first shaft from the center line of said third shaft; means rotatably mounting said third and fourth shafts in fixed relationship, and means for turning saidthird and fourth shafts at the same angular speed and in the saine direction of rotation that saidl'rst and second shafts turn, and means relating the angular speed at which saidV first and second shafts turn to the angular speed at which said third and fourth shafts turn so that said third and fourth shafts turn at a different angular speed than do said first and second shafts.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the ratio, R., of the speed at which said rst and second shafts turn to the speed at which said third and fourth shafts turn is such that the Value of is numerically at least about eight.

l0: An appanatusvaccordingtofclairn 9 in which the ratio, R, is such thatthe Value of R-l l is numerically at least about le than about 25.

l1. .An apparatus for crimping" comprising' a' body containing a circuiar crimping edge, aI first pin rotatably mounted said body; a first shaft afxed to said iii-.st pin with its center line offset from the' center lineof said first pin', Va second pin rotatabiy mounted insaidbody at a point spaced from said first pin, a second shaft affixed to' said second pinwith its centerline offset 'from the center linefofsaidsecondpin as distance equai to-andof similar angularldisposition to' the offset of the center line of said first shaft from the center line of said first pin, means for rotating said first shaft and means for rotating said second shaft at the saine angular Velocity; a third shaft, said first shaft journaled longitudinally through said third shaft, the center line of said first shaft being offset from the center line of said third and not more shaft a distance equal to the offset of the center line of said first shaft from the center line of said first pin; a fourth shaft, said second shaft jour- Vfrom the center line of said fourth shaft a distance equal to and of similar angular disposition to the offset of the center line of said first shaft from the center line of Said third shaft; means rotatably mounting said third and fourth shafts in fixed relationship', and means for turning saidl third andfourth shafts at the same angular speed but at a `different angular speed than that at which the first and second shafts turn.

12. An apparatus for translating a body in spiral rotary motion comprising a body, a first pin rotatably mounted in said body, a first shaft affixed to said first pin with its center line offset from the center lineof said first pin, a second pin rotatably mounted in said body at a point spaced from said first pin, a second'shaft affixed to said second pin with its center line offset from the center line of said second pin a distance equal to and of similar angular disposition to the offset of the center line of said first shaft from the center line of said first pin, a third shaft, said first shaft journaled longitudinally through said third shaft, the center line of said first shaft being offset from the center line of said third shaft a distance equal to the offset of the center line of said first shaft from the center line of said first pin; a fourth shaft, said second shaft journaled longitudinally through said fourth shaft, the center line of said second shaft being offset from the center line of said fourth shaft a distance equal to and of similar angular disposition to the offset of the center line of said first shaft from the center line of said third shaft; means rotatably mounting said third and fourth shafts in fixed relationship, and means for driving said shafts comprising a first gear and a second gear of equal size fixed to said first shaft and said second shaft, respectively, a third gear and a fourth gear of equal size fixed to said third shaft and said fourth shaft, respectively, said third and fourth gears diering slightly in diameter from said first and second gears, a fifth gear drivingly connected to said first and second gears, a sixth gear constructed to rotate at the same angular speed as said fifth gear and drivingly connected to said third and fourth gears, and means for driving one of said gears.

13.An apparatus for crimping comprising a body containing a circular crimping edge, a first pin rotatably mounted in said body, a first shaft affixed to said first pin with its -center line offset from the center line of said first pin, a second pin rotatably mounted in said body at a point spaced from said first pin, a second shaft affixed to said second pin with its center line offset from the center line of said second pin a distance equal to and of similar angular disposition to the offset of the center line of said first shaft from the center lineof said first pin, a third shaft, said first shaft journaled longitudinally through said third shaft, the center line of said first shaft being offset from the center line of said third shaft a distance equal to the offset of the center line of said first shaft from the center line of said -iirst pin; a fourth shaft, said second shaft journaled longitudinally through lsaid fourth shaft, the center line of said, second shaft being offset from the center line of said fourth shaft a vdistance equal to and of similar angular disposition to the offset of the center line of said first shaft from the center line of said third shaft; means rotatably mounting said third and fourth shafts in fixed relationship, and means for driving said shaft comprising a first gear and a second gear of equal size fixed to said first shaft and said second shaft, respectively, a third gear and a fourth gear of equal size fixed to said third shaft and said fourth shaft, respectively, said third and fourth gears differing slightly in diameter from said first and second gears, a fifth geardrivingly connected to said first and second gears, a sixth gear constructed to rotate at the same angular speed as said fifth gear and drivingly connected to said third and fourth gears, and means for driving one of said gears.

14. The method of effecting a circular forming operation on a workpiece in which a body having ia work-engaging surface is translated through a continuous spiral path of more than one complete revolution and without turning about its own axis, which comprises holding the body against axial rotation about its own axis; continuously translating a member mounted in said body in 'a circular path about a first axis; and simultaneously and continuously translating said first axis in a circular path'at a different angular velocity about a fixed second axis, said circular paths each passing through the center of rotation of the other.

15. The method of effecting Va circular forming operation on a workpiece in which a body having a work-engaging surface is translated through 'a continuous spiral path of more than one complete revolution and without turning about its own axis, which comprises holding the body against axial relation about its own axis; continuously translating a member mounted in said body in -a'circular path 'about =a first axis; and simultaneously and continuously translating said first axis in a circular path at a different angular velocity jand in the same angular direction about a fixed second axis, said circular paths each passing through the center of rotation of the other, the ratio, R, of the angular velocities being such that the quantity Y is numerically at least about 8.

WALDER B. AsHwoRTH.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

